The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-21
lepRosx.
Tho Dread Disease for Which No
Remedy Has Ever Been Found
omething About It's History.

Bible and of the restrictions placed
upon 1t by the Mosaic law, says a
writer in The Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Lew Wallace. in his highly interesting
and unique novel, ben Hur. gives an
account of two lcpers and of their
miraculous cure in such an admirable
manner, and with such pathetic details,
rs to add fresh interest TO this remark
able and horrible affection. The
mother and daughter there portrayed
were of the highest station III society,
vet by their aflliction were made out
casts and looked upon from afar with
loathing and disgust. This disease still
exists, although comparatively rare
now TO what it was at the time of
Christ. and some centuries later. Yet
who can tell that it will not become
prevalent againP
The disease is one of the oldest OF
which we have any record. IL is called
elephantiasis by the Greek authors, and:
lcpra by the Arabian, while it has re.
ccived various names in the different
countries where it has prevailed. The
writer's personal experience is limited
to one case, which he saw in Mime
sofa, where quite n number of cases are
found among the Norwegians. The
first accounts OF il are found in the Old
Testament IL was recognized in
Greece before the Christian era, and in
the early centuries after Christ il had
extended widely over Europe. In the
seventh and eighth centuries special
leper houses were found in Italy, Ger.
many and France.
The disease reached its height in Eu-
rope during the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries. when nineteen thousand
leper houses. or lazarettos. are said to
have been in existence. In the iif-
teenth century it began to diminish,
and in the course of the seventeenth
century il had almost wholly disap-
peared from the more civilized coun-
tries. II has fingered. however. in
other parts, and exists to-day in France.
Spain, and Portugal, in Norway and
Sweden, in Italy, Greece, and southern
Russia. II is found extensively in Cen
trail and South America and in Mexico.
In the United States, or, rather,
North America, il first appeared during
the last century in Florida and New Or
leans. II appears, however to have
died out for time. Next it was no.
ticed in New Brunswick in 1915, where
it still exists, and in New orleans again
in 1860 1t has existed for years in Min
nesota among the Norwegians and
Swedes, while since 1871 iifty-two eases
have been reported from San Francisco
appearing among the Chinese. Forty
five of these cases were sent back to
China. Sporadic cases are reported
from all parts of the United States.
What is the cause of leprosy?
l The theory Of its contagiousnoss was
! evidently believed in by the Jews, as the
| most stringent laws were enacted for
the isolation OF lepers. Yet to-day very
, few of those well informed in the dis
ease believe it to be contagious. The
} disease is believed to be transmitted by
inocuataion; that is if the discharge
from the numerous ulcers found ON
lepers is brought into contact with an
abraidcd surface on healthy person
the disease will be transmitted to that
=. person. This is why lepers should be
isolated from society-to prevent the
possibility of this occurring, and not
because there is any danger of trans
{ mission through the atmosphere.
5 1t is undoubtedly hereditary. Bacte-
} ria or germs have been blamed with
being the cause of this disease, and il
r is probable that this is the case. The
= bacteria are unable TO penetrate the
, skin, but il placed upon II surface de
t nudcd of skin readily gain access to the
{ blood
, Leprosv is disease that has hut one
3 termination, and that is death. Bu
what Il death! The afflicted ones arr
not mercifullv relieved of their aiiler
| ings in few days or weeks, but are
5 left to a lingering death of years. Re
4, moved from home, isolated from III
= that is dear to them, disgusting not
$ only TO themo"lves but to others, they
linger on without hope, and at last di'
surrounded by unfortunates similarly
affected.
: What is il TO one thus affected if th'
. highest honors of the nation have beer
heaped upon him? Everything would
readily be given if he could be deliver
ed of this horrible affection. Thu
, side of the grave there is nothing tina
( brings the rch and poor. the high ant
, low, into so close bond of sympathy
as scase.
{ Leprosy exists in two forms. These
, are called tuberculous and the an@s
! thetic. The tuberculous form is char
acterized by the appearance of nodule
: all over the body, but most numerou
, on the face. These are of brown color
5 or red. and cause such deformity as Il
r completely change the appearance o
.I.o nnrrnn cn ihnf nvnn mamhars of hi.